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Topic: 7.5" Gauge Loco 10 Model (Read 17982 times)

This came from Dale Reynolds, who sent me a picture to post on the forum. The engine looks like a copy of our #10, although it has #11 on the number plate. Dale writes:

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Bob Springs of Seneca, SC has built a model of 11 to run on his backyard layout, I think 7 1/2 inch gauge, battery electric. I have run other electric locos on his loop, but this is by far the most realistic.

It is, indeed, 7 1/2 gauge. And while it is based on #10, I made a number of changes, some I really had no choice, others were just the way I wanted to build it, like the duck-bill roof so as it's somewhat freelanced I numbered it "11".

In the picture, it is nearing completion and is posed on the apron of our shop. Today I brought her home. I don't have the batteries and controls hooked up at this point but hope to soon.

This is my first post here and as soon as I figure out how I'll post some pictures.

Here's a bit more information about our Forney.It is 9 1/2 feet long, 4 feet tall and 28 inches wide. The engineer runs this engine from INSIDE the cab. The cab sides are hinged for entry and exit. The rear truck is powered by a 5/8 hp electric motor. The "drivers" are not powered.

Our #11 should have been wider based on the length and height but I have built other 7 1/2 gauge "ride-inside" locomotives and 28 inches is about as wide as I care to go. I simply narrowed the cab and tank a bit as I DID NOT want to go to a wider track gauge. 7 1/2 costs MUCH less than the larger gauges and takes less space, as well. As it is, she is extremely stable. The center of gravity was kept very low.

Here's the 11 on home rails. "BLRy" is "Bountyland Railway". Bountyland is the informal name of our community.You can just see the drive motor behind the rear truck. Note the 1/4th length of landscape timbers used as ties.

This shot shows a 1 1/2 inch scale (1/8th actual size) mogul in front of our Forney. 1 1/2 scale is the standard size for 7 1/2 when used as standard gauge. Hard to believe both of these engines run on the same track gauge.

1 1/2 scale is the standard size for 7 1/2 when used as standard gauge.

Hi Bob;Actually this is an issue that has been around for decades. The world wide "standard" gauge for 1-1/2" = 1' scale is 7 - 1/4" and it was only due to an error many years ago that folks started building to 7 - 1/2" gauge. To compensate for this error many builders of 7 - 1/2" gauge standard gauge prototypes now build to 1.6" - 1' scale. The northeast United States and eastern Canada still use the original 7 - 1/4" gauge and the southern, mid-west and west now use the slightly larger 7 - 1/2" gauge. It is a shame that this has happened as now you will be unable to bring your locomotive to the northeast and run on the many 7 - 1/4" gauge tracks here in New England.Keith